Mama

She was told her daughter would never speak. She wouldn't give up.

Gemma crawled into her mother’s lap, oblivious to the world around her. The world she knew was sleep, nasty food, toys, and mommy.

 

Mommy, or Lynn as the big people called her, was indifferent as her daughter crawled into her lap. Gemma, her sweet, beautiful Gemma, might be sick. Not just sick, autistic. Her daughter was all she had since the incident. Now she might not have all of her.

Gemma looked up at her mother with sparkling green eyes and black as night curls, just like his. “I love you little one.” She muttered.

“Ms. Cray? The doctor will see you now.”

“Your daughter has autism, Ms. Cray. It seems pretty severe. I’m not sure she’ll ever be able to speak.”

Gemma played happily on the floor with her doll. She didn’t know what was going on, that she wouldn’t be normal. She didn’t know that she might never talk.

“She’ll be able to speak,” Was all she said.

The doctor sighed. “Ms. Cray, Lynn, I know you’ve been having a rough time recently but-“

“My daughter will be able to talk and she’ll be one of the smartest children around. I’m not giving up.”

She scooped up the little girl on the floor, still clutching her doll, and stalked out, refusing to hear a word against her plan.

“I love you, my little angel.”

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“No, she’s not mentally handi…well she has autism, but it’s just her speech that needs-“Dial tone. “Damn.” She muttered.

She’d spent a day calling different daycares, trying to find one that could help her with Gemma. It had taken her awhile to get back on her feet, but she’d done it. She would miss her days with Gem, but work needed to be done. What was left and insurance would only last so long.

She looked into the living room and smiled as her daughter held the stuffed bear and watched the cartoon on TV. She was fairly sure it was educational, and that was what mattered.

Her daughter was happy and healthy so far, they had a home and possessions, a job was lined up. She just needed a place for her daughter to go during the day.

“Gemma?” The little girl looked towards her mother, her head tilted slightly. “Come here, darling.” She wiggled her finger and Gemma smiled, pushing off the couch and walking into the kitchen. At fourteen months, she was very well developed physically. She just hadn’t said a word.

The child watched her mother with curiosity. Mommy didn’t seem happy, and she didn’t like that. She placed her tiny, warm hand on Lynn’s arm to show her feelings.

“Gem-Gem, can you say ‘mama?’ Say ‘mama.’” Lynn moved her mouth slowly and pushed the words out clearly, but Gemma only scrunched her eyebrows together and pursed her lips.

“M…Me…Mo…Mebem?” Her eyes filled with worry and sadness at disappointing her mother. She always hated doing that.

“No, sweetie, but close. Mama. You can do it. Ma. Ma.” She moved her lips slower.

“Ma.” She managed, a small, hesitant smile on her face.

Lynn grinned at the little girl and kissed her forehead, making the little girl grin back. “That’s right, sweetie. Perfect.” The little girl giggled and wiggled in her mother’s lap. “I love you, baby girl.” She kissed the top of her head again and set her down. Gemma tottered off to the living room once more and Lynn went back to the task at hand.

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“Ms. Cray…it’s not working. I don’t think she’s going to get any better.” Now eighteen months old and a student of three months at a local daycare, she was barely improving.

“She just needs more time. I’m working with her at home, but not enough. I know it’s horrible of me to ask, but can’t you spend more time with her? She’s such a social child and I know she loves school.”

The worker sighed. “We can only do so much. There are other kids here.” She looked at the charming girl with black curls and ran her hands through her hair. “I’ll try.”

“That’s all I’ll ever ask for.” She smiled at the stressed out young woman, fresh out of college and ready to take on the world…and toddlers. “Gemma.”

Those famous green eyes sparkled as she ran towards her mother. “Ma! Ma! Ma!”

Lynn scooped up the girl, squeezing her close and kissing her forehead. “Time to go home, Gem-Gem.”

“Ome, ome, ome!” The little girl laughed, clapping her hands together.

“That’s right baby girl.” She grabbed her daughter’s book bag and headed for the parking lot, throwing a wave at the employees as she did.

After buckling in her daughter’s car seat, she kissed her forehead again. “I love you, Gem.”

The little girl smiled and opened her mouth, then closed it.

----

“Mama! Mama! ‘Ake, ‘ake!” She bounced on her mother’s bed in an attempt to rouse her from sleep.

The little girl was now over two years old and had the vocabulary over a one year old. Considering the odds, this was a remarkable feat. Her curls were at her shoulders, bouncing as quickly as she was. Her eyes shined with amusement and happiness. “Mama!”

“What, baby doll? Are you alright?” The curls bounced as the little girl nodded. “Then why are you waking me up, silly?”

“Earthday!” She screamed, wearing a grin too big for her tiny, porcelain face.

“Birthday?”

She nodded again. “Mama earthday!” She screeched.

She looked at her bedside calendar and saw her daughter was right. It was her birthday. Her little girl knew it was her birthday. “You’re such a smart little girl, ya know that?”

The little girl grinned with pride. “Eche fest!”

“Yes, breakfast.” She smiled as her daughter climbed off the bed. “Gemma?” The girl paused in the door way, still wearing her Dora pajamas. “I love you sweetie.” She grinned before skipping off to the kitchen.

“Mama ike earthday?” The little girl was tired, now dressed in her Seasame Street pajamas. “Mama ike resends?”

She smiled. “Yes, mama liked her birthday and her presents.” She kissed her cheek and pulled up the covers. The little girl yawned as Lynn walked out. “I love you, Gemma.”

“Love you too, mama.”

Lynn gasped and turned, but her daughter was already out like a light. Tears sprang to her eyes. She knew then that her daughter would be ok.

Author's Note

I wrote this after watching one blogger on youtube I really like. She has a young son and after showing a video announcing about her son's autisms, I was inspired. I have a horrible habit of not editing things so forgive any mistakes.